Cigar-vending machine.



Patented May I3, |902. W. R. DUTEMPLE. CIGAR vENmNG MACHINE.

(Application led Jan. 8, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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w|TNEssES Nu. 699,670. Patented May I3, |902.

W. R. DUTEMPLE.

CIGAR VENDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 8 1902.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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e If/ i? e4 a \a] MZ WITNESSES INVENTOR 'lLamRutem le' Unrrnn STATES PATENT (Danica.

VILLIAM R. DUTEMPLE, OF AUBURN, RHODE ISLAND.

ClGAR-VENDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 699,670, dated May 13, 1902. Application filed January 8,1902. Serial No. 88.880. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM R. DUTEMPLE,

a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Auburn, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Vending Machines, of which the following is a specification. M My invention relates to improvements in coin controlled vending machines, so called; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the devices orinstrumentalities through which the apparatus is adapted to be actuated, all substantially as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

I am well aware that in a general way vending-machines heretofore devised and as usually constructed embody devices or elements 'adapted to be rendered operative upon inserting a coin in a slot communicating with a chute, which latter directs the coin to the releasing mechanism of the apparatus.

rIhis machine relates to a machine adapted more especially for dispensing cigars or any other articles having substantially the same form and size and capable of being dispensed singly from the machine after irst placing a suitable coin therein, the coin itself forming an intervening element for coacting with the releasing mechanism, thereby insuring that upon manipulating the discharge or ejector device one cigar will be forced outwardly from the machine to the purchaser.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism for the agitation and delivery of cigars singly from the magazine.

The machine is provided with a glass-paneled case or housing having alocked or sealed cover. The case contains a suitable receptacle adapted to receive and hold the box containing the cigars, (the cover of the box being first removed,) the said box and receptacle forming a comparatively large magazine in direct communication with each other and from which the cigars are dispensed or vended singly, as before stated. The lower side or end of the magazine has a therethrough for the passage of the cigars therefrom, the construction being such that upon agitatin g the mass of cigars by any suitable means the lowest cigar in the magazine will then register with the said discharge- Visible opening opening. Now upon manipulating the discharge or ejector mechanism the4 said cigar will be forced endwise through the opening and be delivered upon a suitably-arran ged exterior shelf or bracket.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings, Figure l is a perspective View showing one form of my improved cigar-vending machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the holder or magazine removed from the casing and having the box containing the cigars to .be vended secured thereto. Fig. 3 is a corresponding end View. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionalviewtalen on line 3 3 of Fig. 3, show ing the relation of the cigar-agitating device to the holder. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially through the center of the machine, as on line 6 6 of Fig.

6, the several members being in the normal position. The cigars are omitted from the drawings, except the one positioned with respect to the ejector mechanism. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 5. Fig. '7 is a transverse section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a partial plan View showing means for adj ust ably securing the cigar-box to the holder.

A, again referring tothe drawings, desig nates my improved cigar-vending machine complete. The frame or casing a thereof may be made of suitable material, as metal or wood. The form and size may be varied from the drawings and suitably ornamented,as desired. The said top portion a of the casing is further provided with an extension a2, having transparent panels a3 in its top and side walls. The lower part of lthe casing has a vertical slot a4 form ed in its front wall, through which an end f of the cigar-agitating lever extends, as will be more fully hereinafter described. The left or deliveryside of the casing is provided with a glass-covered extension a5, into which the vended cigaris discharged and from which, by suitable means, itis released and falls-by gravity outwardlythrough the opening as onto the ledge or bracket a7. A frame orholderB is removably secured within the casing, the same having an opening on top adapted to receive and retain therein the box C, containing the cigars to be vended, as

clearlyshown in Fig. 2. The upper side of said box (thc cover of which is first removed) is inserted in said opening, the interior of the box then registering with the Walls ofthe magazine m beneath. The two lower Walls or sides of the magazine are united and form a V-shaped depression, the apex or angle m4 forming a scat or support for a single cigar. The box itself also constitutes a portion of the magazine, as clearly shown. In order to adapt the frame B to retain boxes varying in size, both in length and width, the former is provided on top with a movable bar b, having a slot b at each end, through which securing-screws b2 pass. Oppositely -located swinging clips or dogs b3 are employed to secure the boxin position, as shown. The means for adjusting the magazine to receive boxes Varying-in width, which corresponds with the length of the cigar, consists in making the rear wall or side m laterally movable, the adjustment being effected by means of suitablyarranged screws s. The member m is cut away or has a transverse opening s therethrough registering with the center of the lowest cigar in the magazine, or, in other Words, when the cigar is in the normal position, preparatory to being discharged from the magazine. It is through this opening that the cigar ejector or pusher, soon to be described, works. The opposite or front side wall m2 of that portion of the magazine formed in the holder B is made of transparent material, as glass, and is provided with a hole s2, in alinement with the said rear opening s'.

The bottom wall ofthe magazine has two parallel longitu'dinally-extending slots formed therein, adapted to receive the cigar-agitatin g device D. rlhis latter consists of the two laterally-separated parallel blades d, forming a lever pivoted at d' and provided with an extension or handle portion f, passing through said slot d4 of the casing a. The Lipper edge or Working side of the lever is substantially l..- shaped,its horizontal portion passing through one side of the magazine and being provided with oneor more suitably-arranged shallow depressions or eorrugations d2 cl3, adapted upon swinging the lever to engage with and agitate the cigars in the magazine. The other or vertically-extending part or Taco d4 of the lever is curved and passes through the other or-left Wall of the magazine, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that upon elevating the -lever to its limit the corrugated edge thereof operates both to lift and agitate the cigars, as stated, and. at the same time to defleet them toward the opposite portion d4 of the lever, said portion then being retracted past the adjacent side of the magazine. Now upon depressing the lever the part dJL thereof is projected through the adjacent side of the magazine a short distance, the result being to still further agitate the cigars, while it also at the same time gently presses them downwardly and positively insures the seating of a cigar in the larger or central depression cl3, formed at the intersection of the two portions of the working face of the lever, so that when l the latter again is in its normal or bottom polsition it will have carried the cigar downwardly with it into the stationary seat or angle m4,'formed in the magazine, the cigar then being in alinement with the said openings s' s2. I would state that after a cigar enters the depression d3 it cannot be dislodged or unseated by a further manipulation of the other part of the lever and to the magazine is such that its (the side d'1) normal pressure downwardly upon the column ot' cigars adjacent to it exceeds the pressure from the opposite side, the cigars at the same time rolling against one another, and thereby adapting themselves to the different forces.

The discharge or cigar-ejecting mechanism E consists, essentially, of a suitably-mounted horizontally-extending bar e, a plunger or pusher member e', located above, parallel with and connected to the rear portion of said bar and traveling in unison therewith, whereby the latter may be manipulated to force the positioned cigar from the machine. The end of the lever e may coperate with any suitable coin-controlled mechanism that may be located in the compartment d', The ejector is adapted to be manipulated by means of a rod fr, secured to bar 'e and extending outwardly through the casing. The outer or free end of the rod has a knob or handle r, as clearly shown. The pusher member e' is suit-A ably guided and arranged in alinement with and is adapted to pass through the said openings s' s2 of the magazine, thereby ejecting the cigar from the latter, as just stated, into the inclosed glass-covered chamber e3 of the said extension ai of the casing. iVithin this chamber are arranged two short springprcssed movable fingers c4, the same passing through slotted openings formed in the inclined wall (See Fig. 7.) The said fingers when in the normal position are adapted to receive and support the cigar as it is forced from the magazine, the arrangement of the several members being suoli thatv upon manipulating the ejector device to dispense a cigar a dog r2 of the bar e, Fig. 6, will engage the lingers c4 and press them rearwardly (see gar has been received thereon, thereby permitting the cigar to fall by gravity and roll down the inclined wall and outwardly through the throat or passage a onto the shelf or support a7.

The manner of charging and operating my improved cigar-vending machine A is substantially as follows: The cover of the box C, containing the cigars, is iirst removed or swung rearwardly, followed by inverting the holder B, then placingit over the said box and securing it thereto by means of the dogs b3. I prefer to arrange the members B and C so that the head end of the cigars will lie contiguous to the front or delivery side m2 of the magazine. The thus-charged holder is next reversed or returned to the normal position,

lever, since the relation of the side d4 to the dotted-line position, Fig. 7) just after the ci-y IOO IIO

as shown in Fig. 2, and then inserted in the previously-opened casing a, followed by clos-l ing and locking the lid a', the ejector mechanism being in the normal position shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 9. It will be apparent that when the holder, the., are returned to the operative position in the casing some of the cigars will fall into the lower portion m of the magazine. In order `to insure that a cigar shall be discharged by the ejector mechanism, the purchaser rst vibrates the agitator D until a cigar is visibly positioned in the angle m4, thereby at the same time registering with the holes s s2, formed in the two end walls of the magazine. The operator next seizes the handle member r of the ejector and draws the latter outwardly to its limit, and thereby causes the pusher member e to engage the adjacent or tuck end of the cigar and force it endwise through the front opening s2 into the chamber e3 and onto the spring-pressed supporting-fingers e, the nal movement of the ejector mechanism being to press the fingers rearwardly by means of the lug r2, thereby releasing the cigar. The latter then rolls outwardly from the chamber e3 onto the bracket or support c7, thus completing the operation. I would add, however, that while the foregoing action takes place the agitating device D is automatically locked in position by means of the passage of a lug 7f3 of the bar e, Fig. 6, into a correspondinglyarranged notch r1, formed in the adjacent edge of the blades tl, the latter being further cut away at r6 for the passage of the bar itself. (See Fig. t.) Upon pressing the knob or handle r rearwardly to its limit the several devices will again assume their normal position and relation. Vhile the pusher e is being retracted in unison with the bar e a cigar will usually drop into and fill the space thus vacated by the pusher. In such case it is obvious that the agitating device need not be manipulated.

Myimproved cigar-vending machine is comparatively inexpensive. It is easily and quickly operated, as well as being positive in its action when manipulated as described. It is simple in construction and not liable to get out of order. The cigars are in no wise inj ured or affected by the action of the mechanism employed, and the nal cigar in the box is as readily and positively dispensed from the machine as when a number are present in the magazine.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent- 1. In a cigar-vending machine, the combination of a magazine having a receptacle at its lowermost portion arranged to receive a single cigar; an agitating device arranged to direct a cigar into said receptacle; an ejector arranged to enter the receptacle and move a cigar endwise therefrom; and means for preventing movement of the agitating device while the ejector is located in the said receptacle.

2. In a cigar-vending machine, the combination of a magazine having a substantially V-shaped bottom that is provided with one or more slots extending transversely to the lineV of convergence of the walls forming the V shaped bottom; an agitating-lever operating in each of said slots, each lever having a depression in its cigar-engaging portion that is in alinement with .the said line of convergence when the lever is in its normal position; and means for ejecting a cigar from the'angular' portion of the magazine.

3. In a cigar-vending machine, the combi# nation of a magazine having a substantially V-shaped bottom that is provided with one or more slots extending transversely to the line' of convergence of the walls forming the V- shaped bottom; an agitating-lever d, operating in each slot; said lever having a depression d3, in its upper edge that is in alinement withthe said line of convergence when the lever is in its normal position; the lever also having the corrugations d2, adjacent the depression d, and the extended portion d4; and

means for moving a cigar from the angular portion of the magazine.

Signed at Providence, Rhode Island, this 50th day of December, 1901. i

VILLIAM R. DUTEMPLE.- 

